OUR COMMUNITY NEWS

Howard County, MD (May 22, 2007) Plans are underway to obtain a lease to build a tennis facility in Troy Park in Elkridge, Maryland near the corner of Route 100, Route 1 and Maryland interstate 95, in Howard County. The new facility to be called the Troy Park Tennis Center is an ambitious project of up to 29 courts (11 indoor) being lead by the Howard County Tennis Patrons, Inc. (HTCP). Tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport in the U.S. and more tennis playing requires more courts, facilities, equipment and programs. The Tennis Industry Association’s (TIA) report, "Tennis Participation Trends & Studies", details various surveys and studies conducted by TIA and the United States Tennis Association. Their recent findings show tennis participation is growing with more than 25 million people hitting the courts as the result of a more than five-year growth trend. In Howard County an estimated 2100 people play tennis regularly in USTA Leagues, the highest per capita rate in the State of Maryland.

Had any trouble finding an indoor tennis court time in Howard County? Looking for a convenient location to take a tennis lesson year round? The need is there and HTCP is on a quest to be awarded a lease to build a tennis facility housing both indoor and outdoor courts to enhance Howard County’s and the broader tennis community’s availability and access to courts.

After completion of a feasibility study conducted by Brailsford and Dunlavey, a national sports consulting firm, the Howard County Tennis Patrons, were armed and ready to present their case for a public – private partnership with the Howard County Parks and Recreation Department, to build and manage a tennis facility. The site of choice is a portion of land set aside in Elkridge, MD for a multi-purpose regional park.

The Howard County Tennis Patrons, Inc. (HCTP) is a nonprofit corporation formed in 2004 to promote the growth of tennis in Howard County and is committed to building a major regional tennis training center. With a vision to put a tennis racquet in every hand and provide the opportunity to keep it there for a lifetime, HCTP is planning to create a premier regional tennis facility with a full menu of quality programming for children and adults and hosting of USTA events.

Community support for the facility is growing as the true potential for the project is realized. After several public and private meetings with Howard County officials, Art Tollick, presented a well received preliminary plan and sketch of the facility to the Greater Elkridge Community Association (GECA) members. Support was represented and gained by a majority vote of the GECA in their January 24, 2008 meeting to allow the use of a portion of the Elkridge designated park land for the Troy Park Tennis Center. “We have worked hard to create a sense of partnership between the County, the local residents, and the tennis community”-Art Tollick. HTCP has also secured partnership pledges from Howard Community College and University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Though the County has yet to release an RFP (request for proposal) the Patron’s Board members are quickly moving ahead to be able to respond to the RFP and identify their development partners to build the estimated 13.5 million dollar facility. The team HTCP has selected thus far to help them design and build the facility is comprised of several local professionals and contractors. Millane & Associates was hired to guide HCTP’s decisions on financing of a tennis facility. The architectural firm, Gaudreau, Inc. was hired thru an RFP process to design the facility. Site Resources, a civil engineering firm, was recently identified to conduct the preliminary studies of the land, and Ron Schimel of the firm of Miles Stockbridge was selected as their the land use attorney. Art Tollick states enthusiastically “We have assembled a great team to make this dream a reality.”

Funding to build the facility is planned to come from private moneys, donations, sponsorships and bond financing. Howard Bank has shown their support by extending a line of credit to HCTP. Funds have already begun to be raised through an e-mail fundraising campaign in which individuals from the tennis community generously donated as well as a grant from USTA Maryland. Additional fundraising efforts are in development and are planned to be launched this summer.

Though not all the original founders of the HCTP remain, the current HCTP Board includes nine members: Art Tollick the new President elect in 2007, Lynn Coddington, Vice President, Dave Burnell is Treasurer, Karen Vaughn is Secretary, Charles Brown, Kim Barnes, Lemont Joyner, Suzan Lumpkin, and Dave Marshall.

For questions and information on how you can support or contribute to the Troy Park tennis facility project, contact Art Tollick, HCTP President, e-mail art@troyparktennis.com.